Dear Friend, 

Welcome back to the McBride Memo. It was quite a week in Washington — and now that I’m back home in Delaware, let’s cut through the noise and get to the bottom line.

Well, here are the bottom five lines. 

1. One big thing: The Republicans’ heartless budget was easily the biggest thing on everyone’s minds this week. Let’s be clear: Republicans just passed the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. That is not spin — the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office confirmed it.

After ramming this cruel legislation through committee, Republicans brought the budget to the House floor in the dead of the night — literally at 11:00 PM — and we debated it until 7:00 AM the next morning.

But this fight isn’t over. The bill still needs to pass the Senate and be signed by the President. That means we still have time to stop it — to protect families, seniors, veterans and disabled Americans from the biggest evisceration to health care in American history. Here is how I sum up the road ahead.

2. Driving the news: This week, my colleagues and I made one thing clear: working families should not suffer so billionaires can pay less. 

Republicans are betraying Americans and their actions are rising prices, which are disproportionately affecting the poorest among us. I will keep calling attention to these unfair and cruel actions, because tax breaks for the 1% are more than just bad policy–they are a betrayal. You can watch my remarks here from Wednesday evening.

3. On the floor: This week, I took to the House floor several times—and in each case, the message was simple: we must keep our promises.

First, I took the floor early this week to share the story of a mom and her daughter in Delaware. She had a straightforward warning to my colleagues: “If she loses Medicaid, she will die.” You can watch my remarks here.

I also took to the floor around 2:00 am on Thursday and spoke about my amendment to the Republican budget bill. My proposal? To require that the Congressional Budget Office certify these cuts won’t reduce access or increase costs for people with disabilities and seniors. Republicans voted it down—proving once again that they’re more interested in cuts for the wealthy than protecting everyday people. You can watch my remarks here.

Then, I stood with Delaware veterans to say: your service deserves more than slogans. This Memorial Day, we honor our heroes not just with words, but by protecting the VA, strengthening Medicaid, and safeguarding housing, food, and health care. Because handing someone a folded flag while cutting their lifeline isn’t support—it’s a betrayal. Check out the full speech here.

4. Legislative priority: Earlier this month I shared about the ANCHOR Act, which strengthens cybersecurity for our nation’s research vessels, including Delaware’s own R/V Hugh R. Sharp.

This week, I went to the floor to call on my colleagues to urge support — and I’m happy to share that the ANCHOR Act passed with bipartisan support. Our maritime innovation and national security depend on these ships.

I’ve also requested $1.5 million in federal funds to upgrade the R/V Sharp, because in the lowest-lying state in the nation, sea-level science isn't optional—it's essential. Watch my remarks here. 

5. Our state of neighbors: Every week, I get to meet with Delawareans who remind me why this work matters. From doctors to caregivers, from students to scientists — they’re not asking for special treatment. They’re asking for fairness, dignity, and a government that shows up.

• On Monday, I had the joy of joining Senator Chris Coons, Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, and students from across Delaware at the annual Congressional Youth Delegation Conference. From packing meals with the Food Bank to diving into tough policy questions at the Student Town Hall, these young people showed exactly why our future is bright. Whether they were asking about education equity, immigrant health care, or environmental justice, their questions were sharp, urgent, and deeply personal. And my message to them was simple: you don’t need a title to lead, and you don’t need a ballot to make a difference. These students are already shaping our state — and I couldn’t be prouder to stand alongside them.
• Then in DC, Dr. Sunjay Shah and Dr. Jon Strasser, two radiation oncologists from Newark, visited my office to share what it takes to provide compassionate, cutting-edge cancer care in Delaware. From reducing delays caused by insurance red tape to supporting smarter Medicare models, they’re pushing for policies that prioritize patients—not bureaucracy. We also talked about the importance of strong federal investment in cancer research through the NIH and NCI. Because every patient deserves timely, effective, and affordable care—no matter their ZIP code.
• I had the opportunity to take a few students from my alma mater of Cab Calloway, participants in the Mikva Challenge (a civic project where students present on issues and causes near and dear to their heart) on a tour of the Capitol. These students were a breath of fresh air and a joy to take around our nation’s capitol building. Their shirts held a key message: “Democracy is a verb”, a timely reminder for my colleagues and I this week!
• On Thursday, I hosted a care economy roundtable right here in Wilmington with Whip Katherine Clark, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, and Delaware’s own Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay and First Lady Dr. Lauren Meyer. We were joined by childcare providers, labor leaders, business owners, and nonprofit advocates to talk about expanding access to paid leave, affordable childcare, and elder care. The stories shared were powerful—and often painful. A mom who had to use baby shower gift cards to keep the lights on. A pediatrician who called paid leave a matter of life and death. A union leader who said, “They plant the seeds for the food to grow.” These conversations made one thing clear: this isn’t just an economic issue—it’s a moral one. Families are drowning in costs, and care workers are undervalued. We can—and must—treat care as essential infrastructure. That’s what I’ll keep fighting for as Chair of the New Dems’ Care Economy Task Force.

Rep. McBride, Senator Coons, and Senator Blunt Rochester at the Student Town Hall.

Rep. McBride gives a tour of the Capitol to the students from the Mikva Challenge.

Rep. Houlahan, Rep. McBride, and Whip Clark at the roundtable.

This week’s budget bill was a painful setback. It’s hard to watch proposals pass that put billionaires before veterans, and red tape before health care. But I’m not going anywhere — and neither are the Delawareans who show up, speak out, and believe in something better. Together, we keep going. And together, we keep the faith.

Stay in touch, and I'll do the same. Sarah McBride Delaware's Congresswoman

• Service Academy Nominations: Our office is now accepting applications from Delaware students seeking nominations to our nation’s prestigious service academies! As a member of Congress, it is my honor to support these students in their efforts to serve our nation in uniform. The application deadline is October 15th and you can find more information on eligibility and application requirements here.
• Help navigating a federal agency: If you can't get an answer from a federal agency in a timely fashion, or if you feel you have been treated unfairly, our office may be able to help resolve a problem or get you the information you need. While we cannot guarantee you a favorable outcome, we will do our best to help you receive a fair and timely response to your problem. If you need help navigating a federal agency, please visit: mcbride.house.gov/services/help-federal-agency

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